S  B 

994- 


UC-NRLF 


7D    735 


GIFT   OF 


GOVERNOR  WM.  D.  STEPHEN?  ENDORSES  SCHOOL  CONTEST 


KILL 
THE 


CHILDREN,  we-  MUST! 
KILL  THE  SQUIRRELS) 

TO  SAVfr    F-OOO.       / 

BUT  use  POISONS  I 

CAREFULLY.          J 


STAR  BOARDERS 


HOTErU 

LIFOfi 

BOARD  BILL 


SQUIRRELS 
IN   1917 

THIRTY 

MILUPN 
OOULP 


,/  ftErftVfe  ME- 

f1IC&,YOUNG 
3ARL&Y  SPROUTS 


,  WAITER, ,TODRY  ILL 
1  HAVE    MY  FAVOR.1TE 


STATE  COMMISSION  OF  HORTICULTURE 

G.   H.   HECKE,  Commissioner 

RODENT  CONTROL  DIVISION 

W.  C.  JACOBSEN,  Superintendent  Sacramento,  California 


SCHOOL  SOLDIERS. 


DEAR  BOYS  AND  GIELS: 

Is  there  one  of  your  number  who  would  like  to  be  a  member  of  a  company  made  up  of 
American  boys  and  girls  righting  to  protect  your  big  brother  or  cousin  at  the  front  in 
Europe?  We  have  enemies  here  at  home  more  destructive,  perhaps,  than  some  of  the 
enemies  our  boys  are  fighting  in  the  trenches. 

Food  for  the  soldiers  will  prove  one  of  the  greatest  factors  in  winning  the  war.  Our 
ally  friends  are  so  busy  fighting  and  their  land  is  so  torn  with  shells  that  many  of  them 
can  not  work  and  produce  stuff  to  eat  as  they  did  before  the  war;  so  you  can  see  how 
vitally  important  it  is  we  should  see  to  it  that  our  rich  acres  in  this  country  produce  the 
food  not  only  to  feed  our  soldiers,  but  to  feed  the  boys  and  girls  and  grown-ups  in  Europe 
who  can  not  farm  while  the  war  lasts. 

Have  you  ever  noticed  the  work  of  the  ground  squirrel?  Probably  you  know  that 'he 
destroys  a  great  deal  of  grain  and  does  no  good  to  the  war  nor  the  wrorld.  Our  federal  gov- 
ernment has  found  from  making  very  dose  investigation  that  the  squirrels  in  California 
destroy  about  thirty  million  dollars'  worth  of  foodstuffs  each  year.  Some  of  this  is  grain 
that  would  make  bread  for  our  soldiers  and  some  is  alfalfa  and  food  for  stock  that  would- 
make  beef  t.o  feeo1  these  boys. 

Now  we  must  not  allow  this  destruction  to  continue.  We  are  not  loyal  to  our  govern- 
ment and  its  interests  if  we  fail  to  perform  our  part  in  the  conservation  of  food,  whicli 
i::eans  saving  every  bit  of  it  we  possibly  can.  Think  of  it !  Thirty  million  dollars'  worth 
of  food  lost  in  our  8e^oved^J2alifornia  means  fifty-five  dollars'  worth  for  each  of  the  five 
hundred  forty-one  thousand  and  sixty-five  (541,0(>5)  school  children  in  the  state.  The  way 
this  is  estimated  is  by  dividing  thirty  million  by  541,005,  which  gives  $55  for  each  child. 

Now  you  can  see  how  it  is  your  duty  to  try  to  stop  this  loss.  After  you  have  thought 
this  over  and  realize  that  you  can  do  your  part  the  same  as  a  soldier  in  uniform  in  helping 
Uncle  Sam,  I  am  sure  you  will  begin  at  once  to  organize  a  company  of  soldiers  in  your 
class  or  in  your  school,  march  them  out  where  the  squirrel  army  is  eating  the  food  that 
should  go  to  your  brothers  and  cousins,  and  win  your  battle  in  the  war  we  are  making 
against  the  destruction  of  food.  You  can  do  this  so  easily  if  you  will  just  say  to  yourself 
that  you  will. 

This  little  leaflet  tells  you  just  how  to  go  about  it  to  poison  the  squirrels  and  what 
methods  to  use.  Your  County  Horticultural  Commissioner  also  will  gladly  tell  you  more 
about  it  because  he  is  interested  in  this  great  battle  for  Uncle  Sam.  Remember  that 
every  squirrel  you  destroy  means  that  you  have  saved  more  than  one  dollar's  worth  of 
food  during  the  year  of  1918. 

I  will  leave  it  to  you  to  answrer  whether  or  not  this  is  a  good  work  for  boys  and  girls 
to  do  to  help  their  government.  As  soon  as  you  have  organized  consult  your  school 
teacher,  superintendent,  county  horticultural  commissioner  or  farm  adviser. 

I  am  going  to  help  you  too,  and  so  that  you  will  do  your  very  best  I  will  give  a  prize 
of  $50.00  to  the  grammar  school  whose  pupils  kill  the  most  squirrels ;  $30.00  for  the  next 
greatest  number  and  $20.00  for  the  third  largest.  I  will  give  the  same  prizes  to  the  high 
school  whose  pupils  kill  the  first,  second  and  third  largest  numbers.  Your  teachers  will 
tell  you  more  about  the  prizes  and  help  you  win  one  of  them. 

Remember  that  poisoned  grain  is  dangerous  to  handle  and  be  careful  in  using  it. 
Place  it  carefully  so  that  your  pets,  or  other  domestic  animals,  will  not  be  poisoned. 
It  probably  will  be  best  to  secure  your  grain  from  the  county  horticultural  commis- 
sioner or  farm  adviser. 

Let  us  make  these  "squirrel-less"  days. 

Always  at  your  service  for  the  protection  of  our  glorious  state. 

G.  H.  HECKE, 
State  Commissioner  of  Horticulture. 


CALIFORNIA   STATE    COMMISSION    OF    HORTICULTURE. 
Forum   Building,  Sacramento,  Cal. 
RODENT  CONTROL   DIVISION. 

U.  S.   BIOLOGICAL  SURVEY   FORMULA. 

DIRECTIONS    FOR    PREPARING    POISON    TO    KILL    CALIFORNIA,    OR 
"DIGGER"    GROUND    SQUIRRELS. 


Barley,  recleaned  grain 

Strychnin  (powdered  alkaloid) 

Bicarbonate  of  soda  (baking  soda). 

Saccharin    

Heavy  corn  sirup 

Thin  starch  paste. 


16  quarts 

1  ounce 

1  ounce 

1/10  ounce 


i  pint 
f  pi 


pint 
Glycerin ~ 1  tablespoonful 

In  a  clean  vessel  mix  thoroughly  1  ounce  of  powdered  strychnin  (alkaloid),  1  ounce  of 
common  baking  soda,  and  1/10  ounce  of  saccharin.  Crush  all  lumps  of  the  soda  with 
mixing  spoon.  To  this  add  i  pint  of  heavy  corn  sirup  and  stir  thoroughly  to  a  smooth 
creamy  paste  free  from  lumps.  Over  this  pour  £  pint  of  thin  hot  starch  paste  and  stir 
well.  (The  starch  paste  is  made  by  dissolving  1  heaping  tablespoonful  of  dry  gloss 
starch  in  a  little  cold  water  which  is  then  added  to  f  pint  of  boiling  water.  Boil  and  stir 
constantly  until  a  clear  thin  paste  is  formed.)  Add  the  tablespoonful  of  glycerin  and  stir 
thoroughly,  making  sure  that  none  of  the  heavy  sirup  paste  still  sticks  to  the  bottom  of 
the  container.  Pour  this  mixture  over  16  quarts  of  good  cleaned  barley  and  mix  well  so 
that  each  grain  is  coated. 

For  mixing  small  quantities  an  ordinary  galvanized  wash  tub  is  convenient.  For  larger 
quantities  a  tight  smooth  box  may  be  used,  and  the  mixing  may  be  done  with  a  spade. 

Each  quart  of  the  poisoned  grain  is  sufficient  for  40  to  50  baits.  This  quantity 
SCATTERED  along  squirrel  trails,  or  on  clean,  hard  places  on  the  surface  about  the 
holes,  will  not  endanger  stock. 

N.  B. — Strychnin  in  any  form  other  than  the  powdered  strychnin  alkaloid  is  not 
effective  in  the  above  formula. 

CAUTION. 

All  poison  containers  and  all  uncleaned  utensils  used  in  the  preparation  of  poisons 
should  be  kept  PLAINLY  LABELED  and  OUT  OF  REACH  of  irresponsible  persons 
and  live  stock,  and  children  should  be  cautioned  in  the  use  of  poisoned  barley. 

N.  B. — For  Oregon  ground  squirrels  or  "picket  pins"  use  16  quarts  of  oats  instead  of 
whole  barley. — W.  C.  J. 

CALIFORNIA  "DIGGER"   GROUND   SQUIRREL. 


Courtesy  Biological  Survey,   U.    S.   Dept.   Agr. 

The  "digger"  ground  squirrel  is  found  most  widely  distributed  over  California 
and  in  a  large  measure  assisted  In  destroying  $30,000,000  worth  of  food  products 
last  year. 


THE    CALIFORNIA   "DIGGER"   SQUIRREL. 

By  W.  C.  JACOBSEN,  Supt.  Rodent  Control  Division,    State   Commission  of  Horticulture. 

California  is  well  known  for  the  many  trees,  flowers,  birds  and  mammals  that  are 
found  alone  within  her  borders.  An  animal  of  great  economic  importance  is  found  almost 
just  so,  that  being  the  California  Digger  ground  squirrel  of  which  there  are  three  species 
ranging  from  well  into  Oregon,  south  into  Mexico. 

They  are  found  all  over  California  (excepting  the  desert  areas)  at  elevations  ranging 
from  sea  level  up  to  8,000  feet  in  the  high  Sierras.  In  this  state  the  ground  squirrel 
inhabits  the  hills  and  valleys  of  the  Coast  Range,  our  big  valleys  and  the  sparsely 
timbered  slopes  of  our  mountains.  Because  of  his  wide  distribution,  great  numbers,  and 
ability  to  live  under  practically  all  conditions,  he  can  inflict  severe  damage  in  a  very 
short  time. 

However,  his  old  habits  have  led  to  a  movement  that  definitely  spells  his  doom.  This 
great  destroyer  of  food  now  has  the  law  after  him.  He  must  be  taken  dead  or  alive  where- 
ever  found.  He  will  be  shown  no  quarter,  no  chance  to  live. 

Habits   and    Life   History. 

The  many  burrows  with  trails  radiating  from  them  are  usually  places  marking  the 
home  of  a  squirrel  family.  The  burrow  extends  several  feet  into  the  ground,  having 
*ome  where  along  its  course  a  comfortable  nest  lined  with  soft  grass  and  straw. 

The  young  are  born  from  the  first  of  February  until  the  end  of  April,  depending  upon 
the  locality,  those  in  the  south  being  born  earlier,  and  in  the  north  later  in  the  season. 
The  number  of  young  varies  from  4  to  12,  averaging  about  8.  Where  there  is  a  continual 
abundant  supply  of  food,  the  number  of  young  occasionally  reaches  15. 

An  important  point,  wherein  the  squirrel  differs  from  most  of  the  smaller  rodents,  is 
his  habit  of  working  in  the  day  time,  for  he  has  a  much  better  chance  to  get  food  then, 
than  an  animal  whose  time  is  largely  spent  in  the  dark.  In  addition,  he  usually  works  the 
year  around.  In  Modoc  and  L/assen  counties,  in  the  plains  area,  the  Oregon  ground  squir- 
rel is  common  and  does  much  damage.  Its  dormant  period  is  approximately  from  July  3 
to  February  15.  Often  in  the  dryer  regions  squirrels  will  go  into  a  dormant  state  because 
of  food  or  water  scarcity.  Certain  ground  squirrels  can  live  their  whole  lives  without 
water,  obtaining  moisture  only  from  the  food  eaten. 

Food    Destroyed. 

The  foods  most  commonly  taken  are  grain,  fruits,  green  herbage,  vegetables,  nuts  and 
the  seeds  of  range,  forage  and  cultivated  plants.  Wild  seeds  are  abandoned  for  the  more 
tasty  ones,  such  as  wheat,  barley  and  oats,  of  which  the  squirrel  often  carries  in  his 
cheek  pouches  from  350  to  500  kernels  at  one  time. 

During  the  spring,  or  green  period,  the  herbage  of  growing  plants  is  taken. 

Range  of   Feeding. 

The  squirrel  will  start  to  take  grain  as  soon  as  seeded  in  the  ground,  then  the  green 
shoots,  growing  stalks,  green  grain  heads,  ripe  heads,  grain  waiting  to  be  harvested,  and 
from  the  sacks  or  granary.  Likewise  on  fruit,  the  squirrel  chews  the  bark  of  young  trees, 
eats  the  green  buds,  green  fruit,  ripe  fruit  and  dried  fruit  from  drying  trays. 

He  will  eat  worms,  young  poultry  and  occasionally  eggs.  Numerous  quail  eggs  m  the 
mountain  sections  are  destroyed  by  squirrels  each  year. 

With  their  systematic  plan  of  destroying  these  crops,  it  is  easy  to  understand  how 
untold  damage  can  be  done  in  a  short  time,  and  the  damage  he  does  has  placed  the  ground 
squirrel  in  disfavor  by  every  one.  We  all  are  his  enemies.  ... 

We  have  learned  that  there  is  at  least  one  ground  squirrel  per  acre  in  California 
If  this  be  so  and  each  destroyed  only  one  cent's  worth  of  food  m  two  weeks  the?  will 
destroy  $30,000,000  worth  of  crops  in  a  year,  for  there  are  over  100,000,000  acres  m  our 
state  Many  are  the  instances  where  they  do  hundreds  of  dollars  damage  m  one  day  by 
breaking  irrigation  levees,  washing  out  railways  and  roadways.  They  also  carry  fleas 
which  may  spread  a  dreaded  disease  known  as  bubonic  plague.  In  the  oil  fields  of  Cali- 
fornia they  do  great  damage  by  causing  leaks  in  the  great  storage  tanks. 

We  su?ely  cal  find  some  way  to  destroy  the  squirrel  and  the  boys  and  girls  can  do  their 
part.  There  are  many  methods,  and  for  a  few  cents  we  can  kill  this  rodent  which  m  a 
grain  field  or  orchard  may  cost  us  in  damage  from  $2.00  to  $5.00  each. 

Natural  Enemies. 

We  should  never  forget  that  these  rodents  have  natural  enemies.  Hawks,  owls  and 
<m*k<*  kill  ireat  hordes  each  year.  Still,  many  of  us  unknowingly  destroy  some  of  these 
antmals  wMc^  tru^y  are  our  best  friends.  Of  snakes,  there  is  a  single  poisonous  one,  in 
cTfornia-the  rattler.  Nearly  every  eagle,  hawk  and  owl  is  busily  engaged  capturing 
«ni5  Patimr  small  rodents  Only  occasionally  do  they  steal  poultry.  The  weasel  and 
badge^ ?evln  after  many  years  of  trapping  and  shooting,  help  a  great  deal  m  the  control 
of  squirrels,  and  house  cats  do  good  in  this  line. 

Methods  of  Control. 


Trapping. 

No   O  Newhouse. 

Guillotine  rat  trap,  large  size. 

Self-setting  traps. 
Shooting. 

Air  rifles. 

.22  rifles. 
Drowning. 

Flooding:,  with  aid  of  dog. 


Poisons. 

Baits  and  strychnin  on  fruit,  vegetables  and 
melons,  in  dry  season. 

Poisoned  grain. 

Poisonous  gases  or  suffocating  erases. 

After  all,  we  need  the  combined  effort  of 
everyone  to  reduce  the  enormous  damage  done 
by  squirrels. 

A  squirrel  in  time  saves  killing  nine. 


PROCLAMATION 


EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA 

The  State  Commissioner  of  Horticulture  has 
instituted  a  campaign  to  destroy  the  ground 
squirrel  throughout  the  State.  It  is  said  that 
these  rodents  do  an  annual  damage  to  the 
amount  of  $30,000,000,  a  great  part  of  this 
damage  consisting  in  the  destruction  of  food- 
stuffs, and  in  these  times  special  efforts  should 
be  made  to  prevent  such  loss. 

In  connection  with  the  campaign  the  State 
Commissioner  of  Horticulture  has  personally 
offered  prizes  to  those  schools  of  all  classes 
which  make  the  best  record  in  killing  squirrels. 
I  heartily  endorse  the  plan,  and  I  hope  that  the 
efforts  of  those  in  charge  of  the  campaign  will 
be  crowned  with  success,  and  in  connection 
therewith  I  do  hereby  set  aside  the  week  of 
April  2Qth  to  May  4th  as  Ground  Squirrel 
Week,  and  trust  that  during  that  time  the 
school  children  and  all  other  persons  will  do 
their  utmost  to  relieve  the  country  of  the 
ground  squirrel  pest. 

WIUJAM  D.  STEPHENS 

Governor 
Dated:  Sacramento,  April  8,  1918. 

HERBERT    HOOVER,    UNITED    STATES 

FOOD  ADMINISTRATOR,  ENDORSES 

SQUIRREL    CONTROL    CAMPAIGN 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  April  9,  1918 
GEO.  H.  HECKE, 

Commissioner  of  Horticulture, 
Sacramento,  Cal. 

Understand  you  are  undertaking  campaign  for  the 
eradication  of  ground  squirrels  in  California.  This 
has  my  hearty  approval  as  these  squirrels  destroy 
vast  quantities  of  food  which  might  otherwise  be 
used  for  support  of  our  armies  abroad  and  the  allies. 
The  school  children  should  be  of  great  assistance  in 
this  campaign  and  the  knowledge  that  they  are  doing 
a  patriotic  duty  should  stimulate  them  to  their  utmost 
efforts. 

HERBERT  HOOVER 
United  States  Food  Administrator 


YC  61 


405 

Dks  to  Circulation  Desk 

ior  to  due  date 


)F  CALIFORNIA,  BER! 
(ELEY.CA  94720 


THE    CALIFOF 

By  W.  C.  JACOBSEN,  Supt.  Rodent  Cc 
California  is  well  known  for  the 
found  alone  within  her  borders.    An  a, 
just  so,  that  being  the  California  Digj 
ranging  from  well  into  Oregon,  south 
They  are  found  all  over  California 
from  sea  level  up  to  8,000  feet  in  th 
inhabits  the   hills  and  valleys  of   the 
timbered  slopes  of  our  mountains.  Bee 
ability  to  live  under  practically  all  c< 
short  time. 

However,  his  old  habits  have  led  to 
great  destroyer  of  food  now  has  the  law 
ever  found.  He  will  be  shown  no  quar 

Habits   . 

The  many  burrows  with  trails  radi; 
home  of  a  squirrel  family.  The  burrc 
*ome  where  along  its  course  a  comfortal 

The  young  are  born  from  the  first  of 
the  locality,  those  in  the  south  being  bo 
The  number  of  young  varies  from  4  to  11 
abundant  supply  of  food,  the  number  of  3 

An  important  point,  wherein  the  squi 
his  habit  of  working  in  the  day  time,  foi 
than  an  animal  whose  time  is  largely  spec 
year  around.  In  Modoc  and  Lassen  coum 
rel  is  common  and  does  much  damage.  It 
to  February  15.  Often  in  the  dryer  regioi 
of  food  or  water  scarcity.  Certain  groui 
water,  obtaining  moisture  only  from  the  f 

Food 

The  foods  most  commonly  taken  are  gr, 
the  seeds  of  range,  forage  .and  cultivated  p 
tasty  ones,  such  as  wheat,  barley  and  oa 
cheek  pouches  from  350  to  500  kernels  at 

During  the  spring,  or  green  period,  the 

Range  o 

The  squirrel  will  start  to  take  grain  as 
shoots,  growing  stalks,  green  grain  heads,  r 
from  the  sacks  or  granary.    Likewise  on  fru 
eats  the  green   buds,   green   fruit,   ripe   fru 

He  will  eat  worms,  young  poultry  and  oc 
mountain  sections  are  destroyed  by  squirre. 

With  their  systematic  plan  of  destroyini 
untold  damage  can  be  done  in  a  short  time,  a 
squirrel  in  disfavor  by  every  one.  We  all  are 

We  have  learned  that  there  is  at  least  « 
If  this  be  so  and  each  destroyed  only  one  ct 
destroy  $30,000,000  worth  of  crops  in  a  year, 
state.  Many  are  the  instances  where  they  dc 
breaking  irrigation  levees,  washing  out  rail^ 
which  may  spread  a  dreaded  disease  known  a 
fornia  they  do  great  damage  by  causing  leak; 

We  surely  can  find  some  way  to  destroy  the 
part.  There  are  many  methods,  and  for  a  fe^ 
grain  field  or  orchard  may  cost  us  in  damage  fi 

Natural  Er 

We  should  never  forget  that  these  rodents 
snakes  kill  great  hordes  each  year.     Still,  man> 
animals,  which  truly  are  our  best  friends.     Of 
California — the  rattler.     Nearly  every  eagle,  h 
and   eating  small   rodents.     Only   occasionally 
badger,  even  after  many  years  of  trapping  and 
of  squirrels,  and  house  cats  do  good  in  this  line. 

Methods  of  C 


Trapping. 

No.  O  Newhouse. 

Guillotine  rat  trap,  large  size. 

Self-setting  traps. 
Shooting. 

Air  rifles. 

.22  rifles. 
Droivning. 

Flooding:,  with  aid  of  dog. 


Po 

B 

P 

P. 

A: 

ever 

by  s 


GayfordBros. 

Makers 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
PAT.  JAN.  21,  1901 


YC  60813 


RETURN     CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 
TO—*     202  Main  Library 

LOAN  PER10U  T 


DUE  ASSJAMP|DBELOW 


WR    2 


'UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 

FORM  NO.  DD6,  60m,  3/80          BERKELEY,  CA  94720 '  ». 


